Storytelling

Voice 1:Hello and welcome to Spotlight. I'm Marina Santee. This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.

Voice 2:Kwesuka sukela - once upon a time - there lived a woman named Manzandaba - and her husband Zenzele. They lived in a traditional home in a small Zulu village. At night they sat around their open fire with their children. ‘Mama' the children cried. ‘Sifuna izindaba! We want stories! Seefoo-nah ezee-ndah bah! Tell us some stories, mother!'

Voice 1:Welcome to our programme for International Storytelling day! The opening story is from the Zulu people of Southeast Africa. It is a well known imaginary story. It tells how all stories began - as a gift to a mother long ago.

International Storytelling Day began as a way to celebrate stories and storytelling. People around the world celebrate it on March the twentieth. So today, we will celebrate this day with you! We will share three different stories - from the past and the present.

Our first story follows the central idea of the day - ‘Dreams.' David Bast brings us ‘Footprints.'

Voice 3:One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking with God along a sandy beach. Across the sky he saw pictures. They showed the different periods of his life. Behind him, he saw two sets of footprints in the sand. They showed the paths that he walked. One set of footprints belonged to him. And the other set belonged to God. The last part of his life showed before him. He looked back at the footprints in the sand. He saw that many times there was only one set of footprints. He also saw that these were the very saddest times in his life. He questioned God about it: "God, you said that once I decided to follow you, you would walk with me all the way. But I have seen that during the most difficult parts of my life there is only one set of footprints. I do not understand why. I needed you during those difficult times. Why would you leave me?"

God answered; "My son, I love you and I would never leave you. Yes, during the hard times of your life you see only one set of footprints. But you were not alone. During those times, I was carrying you."

Voice 1:Story telling day is not just a celebration of good stories. It is a celebration of the art of story telling. Throughout history there have been many famous story tellers. Often great leaders used stories to advise the people of their time. Jesus Christ is famous for this kind of storytelling. He used stories to teach his followers. Tony Ford re-tells one of Jesus' stories: The wise man and the foolish man.

Voice 4:A wise and a foolish man each decide to build a house. The wise man chooses to build his house on rock. He wants his house to last! He works hard. And finally he finishes. He stands back and looks at his house. He smiles. It is a good strong house.

Near by, the foolish man builds his house. He builds his house on the sand. He stands back and looks at his house. He smiles. His house looks good too! Later in the day, the sun lowers in the sky. The moon rises. The two men sleep in their separate houses. Strong winds begin to blow. Heavy rain falls. And the house on the sand begins to shake. The foolish man gets up and runs out of the house. He stands outside. The cold rain falls on his shoulders. The man watches his house fall to the ground! He looks across at the wise man's house. Inside, the wise man is still sleeping.